Inter Milan 2007/08 Away - Figo 7 (Medium)

This might be one of the best examples of a football shirt whose story starts before its official season does.

Nike designed Inter’s 2007/08 away shirt specifically for the club’s centenary. Instead of using the normal Nerazzurri colours, they created a white shirt dominated by a huge red cross: the symbol of the city of Milan. Even the sponsor was moved away from the centre so the cross could remain the main feature of the design. 

The badge was changed too. For the centenary season, Inter added a gold ring around the crest featuring 1908-2008 and “100 ANNI INTER”, marking a century since the club’s foundation. 

But Inter did not wait until August 2007 to wear it.

The shirt was unveiled at the end of the previous campaign and made its competitive debut against Torino on 27 May 2007, the day Inter celebrated their 15th Scudetto in front of the San Siro crowd. And one of the players wearing it was exactly the man printed on the back of this shirt: Luís Figo, number 7. 

There was already emotion surrounding Figo that day. Reports had suggested he might leave Inter and when the team received a penalty the crowd began chanting his name, wanting him to take it. Figo stepped up, scored to make it 3-0 and then gestured towards the supporters. Inter later recalled that the fans got what they wanted: Figo stayed and extended his career with the club until 2009. 

The shirt then became Inter’s official away kit for 2007/08, the season in which the club actually turned 100. Roberto Mancini’s side eventually won another Serie A title, but only after a chaotic final day. Inter travelled to Parma needing the result while Roma were threatening to steal the championship. With the game still 0-0, an injured Zlatan Ibrahimović came off the bench and scored twice to secure Inter’s third consecutive Scudetto. 

Figo actually wore this design, scored in its very first competitive appearance and then wore number 7 throughout the season it was created to celebrate.